VIDEO: Sheridan Hill Elementary School Students Help Mark Milestone Kindness Suitcase

Students at Sheridan Hill Elementary School were encouraged to share their voice and make a difference as they took part in a lesson with a milestone-setting Kindness Suitcase.

The suitcase, provided to the District by the Holocaust Education Resource Organization (HERO) of the Buffalo Jewish Federation, provides a series of age-appropriate books, guided discussion, and interactive learning experiences to help students become upstanders against hate and explore values like empathy, inclusion, and compassion. The suitcase was the 100th that the organization has shared with schools and libraries across Western New York, including each of the schools in the Clarence Central School District, which officials said reflected a goal to foster kindness, understanding, and connection.

During their lesson, fourth grade students heard the story “The Greatest Song of All: How Isaac Stern United the World to Save Carnegie Hall” by Megan Hoyt, and then were challenged to create and share a sign with an uplifting message for others. 

Dr. Matt Frahm, Clarence Central School District Superintendent of Schools, said he hoped Clarence students would be successful not just in their academics, but also be compassionate and kind community members. The stories and resources in the suitcase, he said, can be valuable for students’ development. 

“When we place stories into children’s hands, they have the opportunity to see the world through other’s eyes. They can experience different perspectives, compassion and empathy, and that shapes who they are,” Dr. Frahm said. “Stories remind us that words matter. Stories teach us that kindness is strength. Stories help us remember that small acts really can change the world.”

Wendy Weisbrot, Manager of Holocaust Education Resource Organization, noted the June 4, 2026 presentation fell on Holocaust Survivor Day.

“To honor the resilience, courage, and enduring contributions of Holocaust survivors, individuals who experience humanity at its worst, yet chose to dedicate their lives to teaching humanity at its best. Their stories remind us why this work matters,” Weisbrot said. “They teach us the consequences of indifference, the importance of standing up for others and the profound impact that one person can have in shaping a more compassionate world.”

The suitcase itself represents the Kindertransport during the Holocaust, during which thousands of children in Europe were transported to safety in Great Britain. Among the items in the suitcase is a Paddington Bear stuffed animal as well as the books of author Michael Bond, who created the character based on his memories of seeing child refugees from the Kindertransport.

The Kindness Suitcase is one of multiple learning opportunities created for Clarence students in collaboration with the Holocaust Education Resource Organization. Students have also had the chance to hear from a Holocaust survivor during a school assembly and experience the Mobile Museum of Tolerance. 

The event was covered by local media, including the Buffalo News, WIVB-TV and Spectrum News.  More information about the Holocaust Education Resource Organization (HERO) of the Buffalo Jewish Federation can be found at https://buffalojewishfederation.org/herobuffalo/.